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What Causes Olfactory Hallucinations?
About 3 months ago I woke up one day all I can taste and smell is a perfume like everything to my kids dirty diapers , cigarette smoke, food , odors. Absolutely everything is the exact same, I have seen a doctor twice and I was put on nose sprays and nedi rinse but it has not changed my condition one bit. This is starting to send me into depression for I am a food lover. Things like porc , steak , and hot dogs I can absolutely not stomach because it is far too perfume. Please help.
posted on
Mon, 22 Jun 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Tue, 22 Sep 2020
Answered on
Fri, 25 Sep 2020
Last reviewed on
Hi,
Olfactory hallucinations or phantosmia is a condition in which a person senses smell that is not nearby them. Parosmia is a condition of distorted smell means the individual sense different smell than the actual one. Parosmia may be due to polyp or tumour in the nose. Sometimes recent change in the perfume or other products that releases some odor may cause parosmia.
Bacterial and viral infections affecting the olfactory neurons or the bulb also cause parosmia. Sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, etc. also may change the sense of smell. Treatment depends on the cause which includes simple saline clearance to antibiotics and surgical correction, if necessary. Visit the ENT specialist for better opinion.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Pradeepraj, General & Family Physician
Olfactory hallucinations or phantosmia is a condition in which a person senses smell that is not nearby them. Parosmia is a condition of distorted smell means the individual sense different smell than the actual one. Parosmia may be due to polyp or tumour in the nose. Sometimes recent change in the perfume or other products that releases some odor may cause parosmia.
Bacterial and viral infections affecting the olfactory neurons or the bulb also cause parosmia. Sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, etc. also may change the sense of smell. Treatment depends on the cause which includes simple saline clearance to antibiotics and surgical correction, if necessary. Visit the ENT specialist for better opinion.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Pradeepraj, General & Family Physician
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